CC: you are changing the context of my original post. Which is that I see paying players and their families is more erroneous than selling your NCAA swag. This was my point, that the initial acts were more severe at SC. This is evidenced by the penalties brought forth in the initial punishment. Five game suspensions and playing in a Bowl game is a minor penalty The only real thing that has surfaced to this point that is of any seriousness is Tressel's action (or inactions), which in themself is a serious action.
I agree the initial offense at SC is more severe (though as you point out, the car deals will trump the SC situation - more players gaining huge financial benefits). My point was that SC's penalties are not only because Bush took cash, but because SC (asst coach) knew about it - SC knew about infractions, but let it go to allow an ineligible player to play (cheating). OSU's ultimate NCAA penalty (of which they have received nothing yet as a result of the the cover-up - lying) will be just as severe - especially if any of the car things are true. AND because the head coach (at the least) was in on it
And to someone's post - this is classic lack of institutional control. The NCAA penalty is stiff for lying to keep players eligible aka cheating.
As one of the resident Ohio alum/Ohio State fan I should warn everyone... people are going to end up being pissed that Ohio State is not going to get a USC type penalty.
As Battle Cat said, the only real thing so far is Tressel's actions. The 2010 season will be wiped out and Tressel will be sanctioned.
And hate to tell people, this IS NOT a classic lack of institutional control(LOIC). The reason is this was all self-reported. The damning emails from Tressel were found BY compliance and reported to the NCAA in January. I bet at most schools those emails get deleted and never reported. Now THAT would be a classic LOIC. Plus another difference between this and the USC case is USC fought EVERYTHING and withheld info along with not having paperwork. Ohio St is basically cooperating with everything.
The car thing is flushing out now, there is paperwork, and it isn't like they were getting free cars. WORST case they might get a Failure to Monitor type penalty for that.
Of course if there is more to be found (and every freaking media outlet is sure as heck looking, why they don't do this to other programs I have no clue) then that might change.
But just want to warn you all... in the end the NCAA will have a hard time proving enough to give Ohio St the LOIC and thus the penalties are not going to be as bad as everyone is hoping for.